Stage set for road warriors Hibernian to charge clear of Rangers
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Throughout August to October, Rangers threatened to make winning the Ladbrokes Championship at the second attempt look like the easiest thing ever, prevailing in their first 11 fixtures to assume an early eight-point advantage.
However, what is often forgotten is that it wasn’t just Hearts who finished above them when they were denied in 2014/15. Hibernian were there too, overcoming a dire start of four losses in six and a mere six victories in 15 to push past the Gers with devastating form from mid-December onwards.
History is threatening to repeat itself. Alan Stubbs’ side again laboured at the getaway, enduring defeats in their two August away outings, but they have barely faltered since, claiming 38 points from an available 42 to turn an eight-point deficit into co-leadership.
The thing that should scare Rangers most is Hibs’ appetite for the grand occasion. When Aberdeen were destroying all challengers in August and September, it wasn’t Celtic or Hearts who transitioned them from a run of eight straight domestic triumphs to a six-match winless streak, it was Hibs with a 2-0 League Cup success.
The capital club also took responsibility for ending Rangers’ faultless 11-game opening sequence on November 1, as was predicted on these pages.
Having brought down the Old Firm giants at the peak of the powers, 16/5 seems an enormous price on them doing it again at a time when Mark Warburton’s men are shaking, winning a mere two of their last six Championship encounters.
Hibs by contrast could not be performing much better, delivering nine victories and a draw from their past 10 league assignments and not dropping a point in their six away days since the start of September. They won twice at Ibrox last season and stand a huge chance of prospering once more.
These are the offers that Ladbrokes have lined up for the televised Monday afternoon clash:
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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